Internal-combustion turbine.



F. L. GROVES. INTERNAL comsusnom TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. i0. 19|6- 1,299,330., v Patented Apr. 1,1919.

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APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1.0. 1916.

Patented Apr. 1,1919. 4 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 a m m 5 W w m w w 2 a J I a v W 4 2 low 6 v w W1 Q 4 Z 7 0 w 2 u auocwtoz 1' 17 I F. L. GROVES. INTERNAL COMBUSTION TURBINE- APPLICATlpN FILED MAR. 10. 1916.

wi bneooco Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

F. L. GROVES. INTERNAL COMBUSTION TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I0. I916 Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

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I r! IIIIII I I I II wi tuzooo 7617 I PATENT onnio FRANK GROVES, 0F BUTTE, MONTANA.

To all whom it may ooncerm,

Be it known that I, FRANK L. Gnovns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butte, in the county of Silverbow and State of- Montana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Internal-Combustion Turbines, of which the following is a specification. 4

This invention is an improved internal combustion turbine motor.

One object of the invention is to efi'ect improvements in the construction of the chambe! in which the explosive mixture is generated and then exploded.

Another object is to improve the construction of the stator or casing and provide the same with a water jacket to prevent excessive heating andwith anair chamber to supply the mixing and exploding chamber with a compressed charge.

Another object is to effect improvements in the construction of the discharge valve and in the means for operating the same.

Another object is to provide a pump for supplying the liquid hydrocarbon fuel to the mixing and exploding chamber.

Another object is to provide a pump to A supply water to themixing and exploding 3;; i chamber. l 3

, -Another object is to provide means for automatically operating the fuel and water pumps. 7 Y I With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction,

combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings i Figure 1 is a .side elevation of an internal ifcombustion turbine motor constructed and 40.

arranged in accordance with my invention. Fig. 21s a detail longitudinal sectional view.of the same on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 's a transverse sectional view of the same on the plane indicated by the linec-a (of Fig. 1.

I Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view of a fuel I supply pump and its connections.

Fig-.5 isa detailed elevation-,partly in A "section, showing one of the thrust rods of the air valves and its actuating cam shaft.

Specification of Letters Patent. Applicatibn filed March 10,1910. Serial No. sassv.

' members 22.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION TURBINE.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Fig. 6 is a detailed elevation of one of the discharge valves and its connections.

Flg. is a similar view of the same at right-angles to Fig. 6 and partly in section.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a stator or casing which is circular in form and is here shown as comprising a eripheral member 2 and a pair of cum ar heads 3 which are bolted as at 4 to annular flange walls 5 which extend inwardly from the member 2 and between which is formed an annular channel 6. On the lower side of the member 2 are supporting legs 17 which are secured on cross bars 8 which connect the bases 9 of a pair of standards 10 which are arranged at opposite sides of the stator or casing and appropriately spaced therefrom and are provided near their upper ends with bearings 11 which are concentric with the stator and in which bearings a shaft 12 is mounted for rotation. A rotor 13 is keyed orotherwise secured to the shaft and is arranged in the stator and .with its widened rim or peripheral portion 14 in the channelwith and spaced from the ring 18 and also has outwardly projecting cylindrical portions 22 which are appropriately, spaced apart. Thereby a water jacket or chamber 23 is formed within the Wall. 20 and its members 22 and an air chamber 24 for the reception of compressed air, is formed without said wall '20 and around said cylindrical Each cylindrical member 22 has a head 25 at its outer end to'which is attached the outer, open end of a radially arranged mixing and combustion or exploding chamber 26. Any suitable number of these mixing and exploding chambers may be provided and preferably they are arranged in pairs diametrically opposite each other. Six ofsaid mixing and explodans ,ing chambers at one side as at 31 and which closes out-- wardly against a seat or stop 32. The pivot of each discharge valve is formed by a shaft 33 which has a non-circular portion 34 that fits in and asses'through a correspondingly shaped ore in the pivotal side of the valve. The discharge valves are here shown as of rectangular orm but ma be of any suitable shape and may be also 0 any suitable size. Each valve 29 has an operating arm 35 at one'end of its shaft 33. .A lever 36 is associated with the arm 35 of each discharge valve and is pivotally mounted on a stub shaft or arbor 37 which projects from one side of the stator. A spring 38 is coiled around the arbor and has one end 39 arranged to bear on the lever and the other end 40 connected to the stator and said spring is also provided with a torsion head 41 by means 0 which it may be adjusted to increase or diminish its tension on the lever as may be desired. The lever has a cammin roller 42 at its free end which bears on t e arm 35. The s ring, lever and arm coact to keep the disc arge valve 29 normally closed as will be understood but the spring permits the partial opening of the valve w en apredetermined pressure in the mixing and explodin is reached. When to valve arm tially at right angles to each other. When the valve is open the said arm and lever cylinder or. chamber valve is closed the are nearl parallel as indicated in dotted lines in ig. 6 and as will be understood.

' of compresse To hold the lever in the tension of the spring a hook dog 43 is provided which is pivotally mounted as at 44 and has an outstanding arm 45. The

hook of the dog engages under the arm 35 when the valve is in fully opened position and serves to hold the same in such osition. To release the dog from the arm an permit 9 the closing of the valve by the spring I provide a thrust rod 46 for eac discharge valve, said thrust rod being radially arranged and adapted to travel in a guide 47. In the center of the head 25 of each mixin and exploding chamber or cylinder is a suitable spark plug 48. Each head 25 has an air inlet opening 49to permit the passage air from the chamber 24 into said mixing and exploding chamber or cylinder. A valve 50 to close said opening 35 and the lever 36 are substan- I open position against is provided and has an outwardly extending stem 51 on which is a spring 52 to normally close the air valve and at the outer end of thestem is a head 53. A' lever. 54 is associated with each air valve to open the same against the tension of its spring. Said lever 56 which projects from'a closure head 57 and a thrust rod 58 is also provided, to actu-- ate said lever and cause the latter to open the air valve, said thrust rod being arranged radially of the stator, and in guides 59.

A fuel supply pump 60 and a water supply pump 61 are also provided for each mixing and exploding chamber or cylinder 26. The fuel supplypump has a body 62 arranged radially in an opening in the head 25 and provided .with a cylindrical bore 63 in which operates a lunger 64, the body. being also provided wlth a fuel supply duct 65 which leads to the inner end of said bore and with a discharge duct 66 leadin from said bore to the chamber 26 and ormed with a conical seat 77 in which operates a conical valve 68. A check valve 69 is rovided in that portion of the duct- .65 w ich communicates with the bore 63. Theplunger has anoutstanding stem or rod 7 O;at the outer end of which is a head{71.1 A spring 72 is provided which is here shown as coiled on the stem or rod and which actsto move the plunger outwardly. A pipe 73 leads from a suitable fuel tank or reservoir to the duct 65. The water pump 61 is similar in construction to the fuel pump, the stem .74.. of a plunger has a spring 75 to move its plunger outwardl and also has a head 76. A lever 77 is,prov1ded to operate and impart pumping strokes to the plungers 'of the fuel and water pumps of each compressing and explodin cylinder or chamber. iSaid lever is pivotally mounted in the standard 56 as at '7 8 and. has at its inner end a cross arm 79 which bears on the heads of the stems of said plungers. Associated with each lever 77, to operate the same and cause it to impart pumping strokes to the plungers of the fuel and water pumps is a radially arranged thrust rod 80'which operates in ides 81.

shaft 82 is provided for each mixing and exploding chamber or-cylinder. 'The said shafts are mounted inbearings 84 and are'arranged parallel with and concentric to the rotor shaft 12. The rotor shaft has a long pinion 85 and each shaft 82 has a gear wheel that said: shafts are geared to and driven by the rotor shaft and preferably the gears areso proportioned as to cause each shaft 82 to make one half of a rotation during each rotation of the rotor but the gears might be otherwise I proportioned if it be desired to cause the shafts 82 to rotate at is pivotally mounted as at 55 on a standard 8-6 which engages said pinion so diflerent rates of speed. Each shaft 82 has a pair of oppositely extending cams 87 which serve to operate the thrust rod \58 and to hence open the air valve 50 twice at each rotation of the shaft 82. Said shaft also has a cam 88 to operate the thrust rod 80 and hence also the fuel and water pumps once during each rotation of each shaft 82. A cam 89 is also provided on said shaft to operate the thrust. rod :46 and hence cause the latter to release the dog 43 from the arm 35 of the discharge valve 29 once during .each rotation of said shaft 82.

Each spark plug has an electric circuit including a circuit closer 90 one member of which is a cam 91 on the shaft 82 so that the spark plug is caused to produce a spark to ignite a charge in the cylinder or chamber 26 once during each rotation of the shaft 82. An air compressing pump to supply the chamber 24 with compressed air, preferably at a pressure of about one hundred pounds to the square inch is indicated at 92, its piston or plunger rod 93 being driven by a crank 94 on the shaft 12 and a pitman 95. Any suitable means may be employed within the scope of my invention to operate the air compressing pump.

The operation of my improved internal combustion turbine motor is as follows:

The cams 87, S8, 89 are arranged so that a valve 29 will be closed and held in closed position by the spring 38 while the valve 50' is opened to admit compressed air to the chamber or cylinder 26 and the pumps are being operated to supply water and kerosene oil or other liquid hydrocarbon to said chamher and hence produces an explosive charge and secure compression of such charge. \Vhen the pressure of the charge exceeds the resistance of the spring 38 the valve 29 opens and is held in open position by the engagement of the hook dog with the arm 35 and at this instant, the air valve 50'having closed the electric circuit is closed at 91 and a spark produced by the spark plug, thus igniting the charge and causing the same to explode. Owing to the oblique arrangement of the passage 28 the exploding charge is caused to impinge on the banes of the rotor .and against those of the ring 18 and hence the rotor is rotated, the chargeescaping through an exhaust opening 96. Owing to the provision of the double cam 87 the air valve is opened the second time, and immediately after the explosion of the charge, so that a scavenging charge of compressed air is caused to passthrough the chamber 26 and passage 28 .and between the rotor and ring 18 and out through the exhaust port 96, thus clearing out particles of carbon.

By the provision of the pump to supply a asinall quantity of water to the mixture the explosive properties of the mixture are 1ntor, a stator, an explosion chamber having an air intake port and also having a discharge passage directed through the stator and to the rotor, a compressed air chamber with which the air intake port of the explosion chamber communicates, means to supply the compressed air chamber with compressed air, a valve eoacting with said port to admit air to the explosion chamber, a fuel pump, to supply fuel to the explosion chamber for mixture with the compressed air to form an explosive charge, a discharge v'alve in the duct leading from the explosion chamber to the working face of the rotor and means ineluding a rotor driven shaft having cams to respectively operate the air admittin valve,

the fuel pump, andthe discharge va ve, and to cause said air valve to open both prior and subsequent to an explosion.

2. In an internal combustion motor, a rotor, a stator, an explosion chamber an air intake port and also havi a discharge passage directed through the stator and to the rotor, a compressed air chamber with which the air intake port of the explosion chamber communicates, means to supply said compressed air chamber with compressed air, a valve coacting with sald port to admit air to the explosion chamber, means independent of said air valve and port to supply fuel to the explosion chamber for mixture with the compressed air to form an explosive charge, a discharge valve in the having duet leading fromthe explosion chamber to to release said. holding means from the valve closing means after an explosion, and rotor driven means to open said air valve both prior and subsequent to an explosion and thereby cause a scavenging charge of compressed air to 'be discharged from the compressed air chamber and through the explosion chamber,

. said duct and to the working face of the rotor after an explosion.

3. In an internal combustion motor, a rotor, a. stator, an explosion chamber, a duct leading from the explosion chamber to the working face of the rotor, a discharge valve in said duct arranged to close against back pressure from the rotor, means inde endent of the rotor to normally ieldabl c ose'the valve and means indepen ent oft e rotor to hold the valve in open position at the instant of ignition, and rotor driven means to release said holding means from the valve closing means.

In testimon I in presence 0 two witnesses. I FRANK L.

Witnesses:

B. K. WHEELER, Joe; Am.

whereof I aflix my signature GROVES. 

